AMD EPYC 7543P vs AMD EPYC 7702 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data presents a clear, six-to-zero sweep in favor of the AMD EPYC 7702 across every Cinebench iteration tested. This is not a close contest; the EPYC 7702 wins all six head-to-head comparisons, including both multi-core and single-core workloads. The EPYC 7543P, despite its newer architecture and higher clock speeds, does not secure a single victory in the measured tests.

Looking at the use-case split, the EPYC 7702 is the stronger choice for heavily threaded workloads. Its multi-core leads are consistent across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, all showing a 3.3% advantage over the EPYC 7543P. This suggests that for rendering farms, virtualization hosts, or database servers where thread count dominates, the 64-core EPYC 7702 holds a measurable edge. The single-core results also favor the EPYC 7702, with a 3.2% lead in Cinebench R15 and a 3.3% lead in both R20 and R23. This is surprising given the EPYC 7543P's higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz versus 3.35 GHz, but the data shows the older part performing better in these specific tests.

The EPYC 7543P, however, is not without its own merits in a broader sense. It operates with a higher base clock of 2.80 GHz versus 2.00 GHz, and its Zen 3 architecture is newer. For workloads that are latency-sensitive or that scale poorly beyond 32 cores, the EPYC 7543P might offer a more efficient per-thread experience, but the recorded Cinebench scores do not reflect this advantage. In this direct comparison, the EPYC 7702 is the definitive winner in every benchmark category measured.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations of AMD's EPYC lineup. The EPYC 7702 is based on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Rome, and belongs to the EPYC 7002 series. It was released on 2019-08-06. The EPYC 7543P uses the newer Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Milan, and is part of the EPYC 7003 series, with a release date of 2021-03-14.

Both are built on TSMC's 7 nm process node, but the similarities end there. The EPYC 7702 packs 64 cores and 128 threads, with a transistor count of 3,800 million and a die size of 74 mm². In contrast, the EPYC 7543P has half the cores at 32 and half the threads at 64, but it uses a much larger transistor budget: 33,200 million across a multi-chip design listed as 8x 81 mm². This reflects a fundamental design shift: the Zen 3 Milan chips consolidate more functionality per core and per chiplet.

Cache configurations also differ. The EPYC 7702 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 256 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 7543P reduces L1 to 64 KB per core but keeps 512 KB of L2 per core and the same 256 MB of shared L3. The L1 reduction is likely due to the Zen 3 core redesign, which altered cache hierarchy to improve efficiency.

Both processors share the same memory support: DDR4, eight-channel, with a memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s, and both support ECC memory. PCIe capabilities are also similar, with both supporting Gen 4, though the EPYC 7543P is explicitly listed as having 128 lanes (CPU only). Both use the AMD Socket SP3, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The EPYC 7543P has a launch MSRP of $2730; the EPYC 7702 has no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably uniform. In every test, the EPYC 7702 wins with a delta of approximately 3.3%, except for Cinebench R15 single-core, where the delta is 3.2%.

Starting with multi-core performance, Cinebench R15 shows the EPYC 7702 scoring 5900 against the EPYC 7543P's 5713, a 3.3% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core is 24586 versus 23806, again a 3.3% advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core is 58539 versus 56683, also 3.3% ahead. These are consistent margins, suggesting that the 64-core configuration provides a modest but reliable throughput advantage over the 32-core part in these rendering workloads.

Single-core results follow a similar pattern. Cinebench R15 single-core is 832 versus 806, a 3.2% lead for the EPYC 7702. Cinebench R20 single-core is 3470 versus 3360, a 3.3% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core is 8264 versus 8002, also 3.3% ahead. This is notable because the EPYC 7543P has a higher boost clock (3.70 GHz versus 3.35 GHz), yet it still loses in single-threaded tests. The data implies that the EPYC 7702's Zen 2 cores are delivering better per-clock performance in these specific benchmarks, or that the thermal/power characteristics of the 200W TDP part allow for more sustained single-core boosting compared to the 225W TDP part.

The absolute scores place both processors in the 70th percentile versus all CPUs in the database. The EPYC 7702 has an average benchmark score of 16932, while the EPYC 7543P averages 16395. The nearest rivals for the EPYC 7702 include the Intel Core i5-1240U (avg score 16957, delta -0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS (avg 16902, delta 0.2%), and the AMD EPYC 7742 (avg 16998, delta -0.4%). For the EPYC 7543P, rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H (avg 16341, delta 0.3%), Intel Core i7-1260U (avg 16320, delta 0.5%), and Intel Core i5-10600KF (avg 16228, delta 1%). These rival comparisons show that both EPYC parts sit in a competitive mid-range tier, despite their server-class positioning.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD EPYC 7702 has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7543P has 32 cores and 64 threads.

Q: Does the newer Zen 3 architecture of the EPYC 7543P help it win any benchmarks?

A: No. In the six recorded Cinebench tests, the EPYC 7702 wins all of them, despite being based on the older Zen 2 architecture.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: The EPYC 7702 leads in single-core tests by 3.2% in Cinebench R15 (832 vs 806) and by 3.3% in both Cinebench R20 (3470 vs 3360) and Cinebench R23 (8264 vs 8002).

Q: Are the memory specifications the same?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory with an eight-channel bus and 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth, and both support ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The EPYC 7702 has a TDP of 200 watts, while the EPYC 7543P has a higher TDP of 225 watts.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The EPYC 7543P has a higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz, compared to the EPYC 7702's 3.35 GHz. Despite this, the EPYC 7702 wins all single-core benchmarks.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the AMD EPYC 7702 and AMD EPYC 7543P:

• Series: EPYC 7002 series (7702) vs EPYC 7003 series (7543P)
• Cores: 64 (7702) vs 32 (7543P)
• Threads: 128 (7702) vs 64 (7543P)
• Base Clock: 2.00 GHz (7702) vs 2.80 GHz (7543P)
• Boost Clock: 3.35 GHz (7702) vs 3.70 GHz (7543P)
• TDP: 200 W (7702) vs 225 W (7543P)
• Architecture: Zen 2 (7702) vs Zen 3 (7543P)
• Codename: Rome (7702) vs Milan (7543P)
• Generation: EPYC (Zen 2 (Rome)) (7702) vs EPYC (Zen 3 (Milan)) (7543P)
• Transistors: 3,800 million (7702) vs 33,200 million (7543P)
• Die Size: 74 mm² (7702) vs 8x 81 mm² (7543P)
• L1 Cache: 96 KB per core (7702) vs 64 KB per core (7543P)
• PCIe: Gen 4 (7702) vs Gen 4, 128 Lanes (CPU only) (7543P)
• Release Date: 2019-08-06 (7702) vs 2021-03-14 (7543P)
• Launch MSRP: Not recorded (7702) vs $2730 (7543P)
• Part Number: 100-000000038 (7702) vs 100-000000341100-100000341WOF (7543P)
• Average Benchmark Score: 16932 (7702) vs 16395 (7543P)

Both processors share the same L2 cache (512 KB per core), L3 cache (256 MB shared), memory support (DDR4, eight-channel, 204.8 GB/s), ECC support, socket (AMD Socket SP3), process node (7 nm TSMC), foundry (TSMC), integrated graphics (none), market segment (Server/Workstation), production status (Active), and unlocked multiplier (false).